Sky pundit predicts Robin Koch axe for Leeds United clash v Aston Villa after Marcelo Bielsa update
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United...
Paul Robinson expects to see just one change to the Leeds United starting line-up to take on Aston Villa at Villa Park on Wednesday.
On Monday, Marcelo Bielsa told the media that Adam Forshaw is available to return to action after a short spell on the sidelines with an injury.
As relayed by The Athletic’s Phil Hay, Bielsa also confirmed that Jamie Shackleton and Charlie Cresswell have also recovered from their injury issues.
With Junior Firpo, Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Patrick Bamford are all going to be missing for the Whites when they take on Villa, Robinson doesn’t expect too many changes on Wednesday night.
He predicts there’ll be just one change and that’ll see Robin Koch axed to the bench with Forshaw, 30, returning to the starting line-up.
“I think it’ll be pretty much what’s gone before,” Robinson told MOT Leeds News.
“He won’t play Koch, he’ll play Forshaw as a holding midfielder.
“I don’t think he’s got any more options when you look at what Bielsa’s got.
“He’s got no players coming back from injury that’ll make a difference to the team that started last time.
“I think it’ll be pretty much the same team with Dan James playing as a floating number nine.”
Koch, 25, has played the last two games in Leeds’ midfield and hasn’t done a bad job despite barely featuring this season due to injury.
If Robinson is right about Leed’s team news, their starting line-up could be: Illan Meslier; Luke Ayling, Diego Llorente, Pascal Struijk, Stuart Dallas; Forshaw, Mateusz Klich; Raphinha, Rodrigo, Jack Harrison; James.
In other Leeds United news, Robbie Fowler has made an admission about Leeds’ January transfer window.